Kennesaw, GA - Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG, the world's leading solution provider for the print media industry, will serve as a platinum sponsor and official supplier for the Offset Printing skill category at the 40tieth WorldSkills Competition, to be held September 1-7 at Calgary's Stampede Park. This is the third consecutive WorldSkills Competition for which Heidelberg has been recognized as an Official Supplier; the company also served as an Official Supplier at the 38th and 39th WorldSkills Competitions, held in Finland and Japan, respectively.
 
"Heidelberg is very proud to support WorldSkills Calgary 2009," said Brian Ellis, Director of Marketing for Heidelberg Canada Graphic Equipment Limited. "This prestigious competition provides an opportunity to increase awareness of the exciting and rewarding career opportunities in the graphic arts industry, especially pertaining to offset printing."
 
Heidelberg has contributed two Speedmaster SM 52 multicolor printing presses and a Polar 78X paper cutter to this year's competition. These pieces of equipment are essential to the success of the offset printing competition and will help promote the printing industry to the approximately 50,000 students attending WorldSkills Calgary 2009. Fourteen skilled young people representing countries/regions such as Canada, New Zealand and Switzerland will compete in the Offset Printing skill category using Heidelberg's market leading technology. Amela Mujkic, a Ferris State University (FSU) senior, will represent the United States at the Calgary competition, marking the first time ever that a student from the U.S. will compete at the international level. Earlier this summer, Mujkic completed an intensive Print Media Academy (PMA) training class at Heidelberg USA's Print Media Demonstration Center (PMDC) in Kennesaw, Ga. to prepare herself for the competition.
 
Heidelberg will heighten its presence in the offset printing skill category by exhibiting in the Global Skills Village presented by UA Canadian Piping Trades. The Heidelberg booth will feature an introduction to this skill with a complimentary Printing Technology booklet. A large map of Canada highlighting the location of WorldSkills Calgary 2009, which was printed on a Speedmaster XL 105 at Heidelberg's Print Media Centre in Mississauga, Ontario, will be provided to participants, on request.
 
"Heidelberg's sponsorship contribution and participation in the WorldSkills Competition is of enormous benefit to WorldSkills Calgary 2009," said Richard Walker, President and CEO of WorldSkills Calgary 2009. "The competitors' access to Heidelberg technologies will enable them to demonstrate their skills to their greatest potential and achieve excellence."